What is your background and how did you get involved in the entertainment industry?
I started out at an Arts High School. By grade 12, I’d basically checked out of all my academic classes and I was just there for the theatre program. After graduation, I got a scholarship to the Vancouver Film School, where I studied directing and cinematography, so I stopped acting for a while. While my time at VFS was wonderful, it made me realize that acting is my main priority, so I tried to find an agent, but I wasn’t good enough, so I had to get better at acting. I searched for the school that would allow me to start acting quickly, and I ended up doing six months intensive in Vancouver, then went to the American and London Academy of Dramatic Arts. Eventually, I started going to auditions, one thing led to another, and here I am today.
Did you ever take anything from set home?
I actually did. In Deadly Class, almost all the scenes Viktor is in, he wears the school uniform but, in the last episode, he gets to wear this very cool jacket. I instantly fell in love with it the first time I tried it on, so when the show got canceled, I managed to get a hold of the clothes department and get the jacket for myself. When I got home, I actually had to wash off the fake blood from the last scene I shot in it. Now I wear it almost every day because it’s one of my favorite pieces of clothing.
You portrayed Viktor on Deadly Class. Since the show got canceled, what would be your parting words to Viktor?
Because the TV show is based on comic books and the creator of those was actually our showrunner, I knew what Viktor’s arc would be and how he would develop. There was just so much we could have explored in an upcoming season that we never got to. As for what I would say to Viktor, I don’t think it would really matter because he wouldn’t listen to me anyway. I truly don’t know what I could say to him that would change his mind in any way. I love him as a character and I’m sad I don’t get to tell his story anymore.
You also portray Brett on Riverdale. What can we expect from him in upcoming episodes and what would be your ideal character development for him?
In a recent episode, Donna and Brett’s plan has been uncovered, so we are not sure when we will see Brett again. As for what I want for Brett in the future, I have always loved a good redemption arc, so it would be really interesting to see him in that situation. I would love for the show to explore Brett’s relationship with his dad in-depth because we see a glimpse of it throughout the show, but never on a deeper level.
Who are some artists that have influenced your craft and how?
The first artist that comes to mind is definitely Jim Carrey. Growing up, I have looked up to him so much and I still do. He’s such an amazing artist. To this day, a lot of people tell me that I am very “him” when I portray a role. Actually, most takes that don’t make the cut in Riverdale are just me doing Jim Carrey schtick, but they never make the cut because they’re really dumb and not the tone of the show at all. Another actor that I really admire is Bryan Cranston. I like to call him “the greatest good actor in the world” because he’s so good, but every time I’m watching him act, all I can think is, “That’s Bryan Cranston! Look at him act the hell out of this scene.” When I watch him act, I just see smart choice after smart choice, and he steals every scene he’s in. The last person I would mention is Saoirse Ronan because she just can’t seem to make a bad movie. I always feel like I have to pick my jaw up off the floor whenever I see one of her projects.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
I think the most important thing an actor, especially an aspiring one, should do is to get training. If you want to do this as a career, you need to have a clear foundation of what acting is and what you need to improve in order to be good. Without my training, I would not have booked Riverdale or Deadly Class.
What do you love most about your job?
I f**king love acting, but that’s not a good enough answer. I love acting, and being on set is the best. On Deadly Class, everyone was stoked to be there, from the actors to the production crew and the showrunners. To be able to show up on a set where absolutely everyone wants to be there is an incredible feeling. I feel like the best part about being an artist is definitely the people that you work with and the memories you make together while working. Also, another thing that I love as an artist is that you get to express yourself, really lose it. Because you can’t just start screaming or crying on the street because, you know, we live in a society, but that’s the gold when you’re an actor. I am getting joy sweats just thinking about it.
What kind of roles do you prefer when you’re looking at a potential character to portray?
I would really enjoy portraying a character in a comedy or getting to do anything that makes people laugh. Also, I am a big nerd, so anything that is based on comics or science fiction would be amazing to do. It sounds like a cop-out, but a character that I would love to portray would be Viktor from Deadly Class so we could do a few more seasons of that badass show.
Did you have a moment in your life when you felt like you made it?
Well, I don’t think I have made it. I’m not “there” yet, but the first time I had three auditions in one day, I felt like a hotshot. I just remember feeling like, “This is it, this is what it’s like to be an actor,” having not one, not two, but three auditions on the same day was mind-blowing to me. Another moment like this would have to be when I booked Deadly Class and I started reading all the comics. I fell in love with that show immediately. Between the pilot and filming the season, I spent all my time training to be Viktor, going to the gym, working on my accent, and studying the realities of Soviet life. Committing my whole life to a project I loved was unreal. But no, I don’t think I’ve “made it” quite yet as an actor, but I feel like I’m slowly getting there, hopefully.
What do you hope to achieve through your art?
As an actor, you don’t really have a lot of control past the script that you have been given. You go to work, act what it says in the script, and then when you wrap, you wait for the film to hopefully come out. Because of this, I never really thought of what I can achieve through what I do, but I suppose what acting gives you is a platform.If you do shows or films and you start to gain popularity, your platform grows. I want to be able to support causes that matter to me, give them the spotlight, and hopefully bring people’s focus to areas that could use it.
